Flooring Options

A lot of folks spend so much time debating whether hardwood or carpet is right for their space and budget when it comes to flooring. There are lots of other flooring options out there that are surprisingly affordable. Here are six flooring options that you might not have thought of.

Concrete

Concrete floors are beautiful in modern spaces and it can also be nice to add it in to a traditional space as well. Concrete floors are either polished or finished with sealants to make them shiny. Depending on the treatment, you may save a little money over other floor options.

Cork

Cork flooring looks gorgeous underfoot, with a movement and warmth similar to wood. It has a little bit of springiness that makes it easier on your feet which makes it especially nice in places like the kitchen where you’ll be standing for long periods of time.

Rubber

Rubber flooring is already quite popular in Europe but in America, it may draw up a sort of 80s-industrial sensibility. Rubber flooring can be quite attractive and it’s also remarkably practical – incredibly durable, easy to care for, and nice and forgiving underfoot.

Tile (and not just in kitchen or bathroom).

Tile is not something that only goes in wet spaces. There are many beautiful tile designs nowadays that are just way too pretty to be hidden in the bathroom. Encaustic tile is especially nice in the right living room or dining room. If you live in a place where it gets particularly hot during summer, its coolness will be wonderful underfoot.

VCT

If you’ve been an architect, you’ll know that VCT or vinyl composite tile is cheap. It’s almost always the budget flooring option in any project. It is the one you go to when you are really trying to squeeze money out.

Carpet Tile

Carpet tile gets used a lot in industrial buildings because it is easy to clean, easy to install and can be replaced one section at a time in the event of stains. There are many manufacturers that make carpet tiles for residential applications and they come in many variety of colors and patterns that are anything but office-building boring.